Registration & Trip Details

Confirm space is available on the tour you want by submitting the following form, or give us a call or send an email. We’ll get back in touch to confirm that space is available, and send instructions to register. All participants will need to read and understand our LIABILITY WAIVER, pay for the trip, and complete a medical form to reserve a trip space.

 

Reservation Inquiry Form

Registration Information

Cancellations

Cancellations aren’t fun for anyone! If you must cancel, we will do our best to fill your vacated space. If we are able to re-book your space, then only our $200 handling fee will apply. Although almost everyone has a very valid reason for needing to cancel, please know that there are no exceptions to our cancellation policy. As a result, we strongly recommend purchasing robust third party cancellation insurance. This may be purchased from most major insurance providers. We are not responsible for costs associated with cancelled flights, closed borders, travel advisories, personal illness, or evacuation costs related to Covid 19. 

Our cancellation charges include tax and apply from the date we are advised of your cancellation. Please advise us of your cancellation by email to avoid any confusion. 

Prior to the trip:

  • 90 or more days – full refund less $200 handling fee per person.
  • 89-60 days – 75% refund.         
  • 59-0 days – forfeit total price.

Environmental & Cultural Fee

All trip spaces are subject to a $5/day donation. All travel has an environmental impact, and we believe it is important to give back in some way. The fee is given to local indigenous social, environmental, and cultural initiatives. Note that our fee does not account for environmental and carbon costs associated with your travel, and we suggest that you consider offsetting those costs with other changes in your lifestyle.

Gratuities

At the end of a trip, it is customary (though not required) to offer a gratuity to guides as a thanks for great service. How much to tip is up to personal preference. Most trip participants tip approximately 10% of trip cost, but any amount is appreciated. A portion of all gratuities is shared with kitchen staff. 

Trip Food

We take pride in serving high quality food, and make most of it “from scratch” in our lodge kitchens. For ethical, environmental, and climate reasons, all of our food is “pescatarian” – vegetarian with some locally caught/harvest seafood (seafood is easily avoided). If you require a high protein diet, you may wish to bring protein snacks.

Dietary restrictions: We can accommodate the following dietary needs. We do our best to ensure that you’re well-fed and happy, but can’t provide substitutions for absolutely everything on the trip, and may ask you to bring some of your own substitutes:

  • Vegetarian (no extra charge)
  • Pescatarian (vegetarian but eat fish/shellfish) (no extra charge)
  • Vegan (+$10/day)
  • Gluten free (+$20/day)
  • Dairy free (+$20/day)

If you have other allergies or restrictions, please get in touch by email or phone prior to booking a trip with us to ensure that we can accommodate your needs. We may not be able to accommodate complex dietary needs (such as multiple allergies or restrictions), but in some cases we can work with you to make the trip possible. We generally cannot accommodate highly sensitive anaphylactic food allergies, celiacs sensitive to trace contamination, or keto/paleo diets. We cannot accommodate simple likes/dislikes, but we can provide a menu in advance so you can bring your own substitutions. Food allergies that require significant modifications may incur an additional daily fee.

Trip Difficulty Ratings

Trip difficulty ratings are subjective, and are based on average wind, sea-state, and weather. All trips involve carrying kayaks and equipment on beaches and uneven, sometimes slippery surfaces. Good mobility and balance is recommended for lodge based trips, and required for expeditions. If you have any doubts about your abilities, we recommend getting in touch for a chat prior to booking.

  • Easy: Suitable for most people in average to good shape who exercise somewhat regularly. Paddling days are shorter (10-16km/day), routes are mainly sheltered, although exposure to wind and waves is still a possibility. Beaches are mostly low sloping and usually easy to walk on (most are still rocky and can be slippery). Camping spots are well-established, but mostly undeveloped.
  • Moderate: Suitable for most relatively fit people. We recommend these trips for those who are in good shape and exercise regularly. Prior paddling experience is an asset, but not required. Paddling days are longer (14-19km/day), routes are more exposed to wind and waves. Beaches may be steep, rocky, slippery, and more challenging to move on. Camping spots are well-established, but mostly undeveloped.
  • Strenuous: Suitable for people with a higher level of fitness. We recommend these trips for those who exercise regularly and have good strength and balance. Prior paddling experience is not required, but recommended. Paddling days can be long (14-22km/day), routes very exposed, landings infrequent, and beaches steep and slippery. Camping spots are mostly undeveloped, and less established.

Equipment

Kayaking equipment: We provide high-quality paddling equipment and ruddered fiberglass touring kayaks. We use a mix of single and double kayaks for safety and comfort. Trip participants can choose to paddle in a double or single, but those in singles may be asked to spend some time in a double kayak. Participants may bring their own camping and paddling equipment if it is in good condition and meets our safety standards (please inquire). In some cases we allow participants to bring their own kayaks (please inquire). If you bring your own kayak, you must also be willing to spend some portion of the trip in a double kayak as needed, with another participant or guide in your kayak.

Camping equipment: We provide quality camping equipment from reputable brands. Trip participants can generally choose a private one person tent, or share a three person tent with one other participant. In rare cases when groups are mostly comprised of single travellers, we may ask for volunteers to share tents, as some camping spots have limited tent sites. We provide inflatable Therm-a-Rest mattresses that are approximately 1 1/4 inches thick. Trip participants are welcome to bring their own personal camping equipment.

Lodge Accommodations

Both of our lodge locations are beautifully rustic, off-grid, and powered primarily by solar energy.

Expeditions: First and last nights of all expedition trips are spent at Coast Mountain Lodge on Read Island. Trip participants sleep in cabins that are separate from the main lodge and are rustic, but comfortable. In most cases, participants are able to request a single or shared room. Beds are made up with bottom sheets and pillows, you’ll need your sleeping bag for top bedding (it’s hard to do lots of laundry off-grid!). We use clean and comfortable composting toilets. The lodge has solar/propane showers.

Surge Narrows Lodge Getaways: These trips are based from Discovery Islands Lodge on Quadra Island. Trip participants sleep in the main lodge, and can almost always request a private room. Beds are fully made up (no sleeping bag required), shared bathrooms with flush toilets are down the hall. The lodge has solar/propane showers.

Wildfire smoke

Summer is wildfire season, and it’s possible that our trips may be impacted by wildfire smoke. Kayaking is a low impact activity, and it is generally not dangerous to paddle at a leisurely pace when the air is smoky. Our trips will run regardless of air quality. Trips may be re-routed to avoid active fire areas, and only cancelled at our discretion. If you’re concerned about smoke impact to your trip, we recommend considering “cancel for any reason” travel insurance. Early season trips are less likely to be impacted by wildfire smoke. 

Personal illness & Injury

You may not take part in the trip if you have Covid 19, and if you show symptoms, we may ask you to take a test.  If you become seriously sick during one of our trips or test positive for Covid 19, you will have to leave the trip for the safety of others. We are not responsible for associated costs such as evacuation, travel modifications, or hotel expenses. Please consider purchasing robust third party cancellation insurance.

Safety

We make every reasonable effort to ensure participants a safe journey: our guides are highly skilled and experienced and our equipment is well maintained. Though we take every reasonable precaution, the territory in which we operate is remote and rugged wilderness. Weather conditions can be extreme and are not always reliably predicted. Therefore, for safety or any other reason, we reserve the right to, without penalty, withdraw or alter any itinerary or service. Upon booking, the participant agrees to the terms and conditions above and agrees be a cooperative part of the trip group and follow direction from the trip leaders.

In case of emergency: Be sure your personal health insurance is adequate to cover expenses caused by accidents in remote locations. In the event of an unscheduled evacuation, we may use government, private, or in-house resources, and participants should expect to assume full cost for these. Everyone is required sign a liability waiver prior to participating in kayaking and adventure activities.